Tanzania can save thousands of whales

Progress:
99%
Alerts Taken:
69412
Goal:
70000

We have already passed our first goal of 40,000! And our second of 60,000! Help us reach our new goal.

This year, at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meetings in Slovenia, member nations will vote for the second time on a proposal that would create a permanent whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic.

Japan is putting pressure on nations to vote against the sanctuary and for commercial whaling, but just one vote could sway the results and save South Atlantic whales. Forever. Tanzania could be that vote.

Join us in signing on to a letter to Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, asking for his country’s support on the South Atlantic Sanctuary proposal.

Message

To His Excellency The Honorable Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete

President

Your Excellency,

I am writing to you on behalf of our 3 million members and supporters to ask Tanzania to support establishment of a whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic, as proposed to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) by Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and South Africa, for a decision at the Commission's biannual meeting which begins on 15 September.

Tanzania is well known for care and protection of your abundant wildlife and reaps the justified reward of significant contributions to your economy from wildlife tourism. This extends to whales; there are over 40 Tanzanian whale watching boats operating in the Indian Ocean which has long been a whale sanctuary declared by the IWC. So we were surprised and disappointed when Tanzania voted against the South Atlantic whale sanctuary when it was proposed at the IWC's previous meeting in 2012.

We believe that Tanzania has no interest in hunting whales and that live whales already contribute more to Tanzania's economy than hunting whales ever could. But earlier this year Tanzania, which had lost its right to vote at IWC meetings, paid its back dues and regained voting rights. Last week the IWC announced that the Director General of the Deep Sea Fishing Authority has been appointed as the new IWC Commissioner for Tanzania. Tanzania's 2012 vote against the proposed whale sanctuary was cast by a previous director general of the Deep Sea Fishing Authority.

We appeal to you to instruct your nation's representative to the September IWC meeting to vote in favour of the South Atlantic whale sanctuary, and other initiatives to protect whales. Tanzania's vote in support of the proposed South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary would align Tanzania with other conservation minded countries like Brazil, South Africa and the US.

We hope you will support the conservation of whales and dolphins in the South Atlantic Ocean. Your upcoming vote at the September IWC meeting is an opportunity to have millions of whale lovers worldwide identify with Tanzania's strong conservation ethic.

Sincerely,[Your Name][Your Address][City, State ZIP]

Contact

*Required fields

*First Name:

*Last Name:

*Your Email:

ZIP / Postal Code:

Get the most important and urgent alerts to your phone — including special alerts on protecting whales and our oceans! Just enter your mobile number. We'll send 2-4 txts/mo. Reply "STOP" to unsubscribe at any time.Privacy Policy